Extension exercises

Making a relatively small space appear larger is a common challenge among designers and there are many ways of achieving it.

For the redesign of this kitchen and dining space, interior design company Simplex Design used elongated horizontal and vertical planes to create a sense of spaciousness. One area where this is most noticeable is the dropped ceiling above the kitchen.

"As well as giving an illusion of length to the kitchen, the dropped ceiling also clearly defines the space within the open-plan living area," says designer Kwongseng Kiu. "It also allowed us to install indirect lighting around the edges, which is visually comfortable to work under. To add sparkle and shine, a shimmering light fixture was installed above the island."

In the dining area, Simplex Design has used the verticality of the double-height space to create a sense of height and length. Elongated vertical artwork adorns the feature wall that extends to the upper floor. The dining chairs have tall backs that give the impression of stretching towards the ceiling. A chandelier of fine proportions was chosen to hang within the space, so as not to interfere with its height.

Removing walls may seem like an obvious solution for extending the feeling of space, but it is an effective one nonetheless. Simplex Design removed a wall that separated the staircase from the kitchen.

"As well as making the space seem larger, this created a direct connection between the staircase and the kitchen," says the designer. "To further this connection, black granite was used on the bottom step to match the shiny black toekick and bar stools in the kitchen."

A piece of glass with sand-etched patterning was installed on the stair landing. This is both for safety, and for the sharing of light between the two floors.

To help blend the kitchen with the rest of the space, the designers mixed teak cabinetry with white spray-painted upper cabinets.

"The teak helps the cabinetry merge with the living room, which has wooden furniture. The white cabinets also have the same level of shine as the homogenous tiled floors," says Kwongseng Kiu.

Story by: Camille Butler